🥦 Winter Squash
Cucurbita maxima, C. moschata, C. pepo
vegetables
fruit (culinary vegetable)
☀️ Sun
Full sun (6, 8+ hours); more sun = sweeter flesh (increases sugar content during curing)
💧 Water
High; 1, 2 inches per week; reduce watering as fruits approach maturity to improve storage quality and sweetness
🗺️ Zones
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
🧪 Soil pH
6.0, 7.0
🪴 Soil Type
Rich, well-composted loam; very heavy feeder , incorporate copious compost or aged manure before planting
🚿 Drainage
Well-drained; plant on raised mounds/hills 12 inches high for best drainage and soil warmth
📏 Spacing
Varies dramatically by variety: bush types 24, 36 inches; vining types 48, 72 inches apart; rows 60, 120 inches
⏱️ Maturity
85-110 days (from seed); acorn 85-90, butternut 95-100, hubbard 100-110 days
🍴 Edible Parts
🍽️ Flesh of mature fruit
🍽️ Seeds (roasted , pepitas from C. pepo and C. moschata)
🍽️ Flowers
🍽️ Young leaves/tips (cooked)
Key:🤝 Grows well together❌ Keep apart☀️ Sun needs💧 Water🗺️ Hardiness zone
🤝 Companions (8)
Three Sisters , beans fix nitrogen; beans climb corn; squash sprawls below, prickly leaves deter raccoons and deer
Borage attracts bees and pollinators essential for squash fruit set; its presence may deter squash pests including squash bugs and cucumber beetles. A classic companion recommended by the Almanac.
Three Sisters guild , squash shades soil supporting corn roots; corn provides partial windbreak
Attracts parasitic wasps; improves growth
Suppresses nematodes; repels pests; attracts beneficials
Trap crop for aphids; repels squash bugs and cucumber beetles IMPORTANT management caveat: without active management, nasturtiums can become a SOURCE of aphids that migrate to nearby crops. Either remove aphid-infested nasturtium plants promptly, or treat the trap crop itself to eliminate the aphid colony before it spreads. Strategic placement within 4-5 feet of protected crops is key.
Ground cover; aromatic oils repel pests
Repels squash vine borer when allowed to flower and go to seed
⚠️ Keep Apart (3)
💊 Medicinal Uses
Medicinal Properties
- Excellent source of beta-carotene (vitamin A) , especially butternut, kabocha, and hubbard
- High in vitamin C, potassium, and fiber
- Seeds: rich in zinc, magnesium; traditional use for prostate health (pumpkin seeds especially)
- Anti-inflammatory carotenoids , lutein and zeaxanthin for eye health
📝 Growing Notes
Winter squash is harvested mature with hard skin and stores 3, 6+ months. Must cure after harvest , leave in sun/warm area for 7, 14 days to harden skin. Key varieties: butternut (C. moschata, most disease resistant, stores best), acorn (C. pepo), spaghetti, delicata (C. pepo), kabocha (C. maxima), hubbard (C. maxima). C. moschata is naturally resistant to squash vine borer.
🛒 Buy Seeds & Plants
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Johnny's Selected Seeds
Botanical Interests
True Leaf Market
Burpee
Territorial Seed Company
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